How to raise money for a film

ktdmoviemaker

ktdmoviemaker

Well-known member
Hi everyone. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to raise funds for a short film? I need to raise around $2,000. Like a car wash, etc.? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Have a great weekend,

Kris
 
Re: How to raise money for a film

you could try that one thing i heard about.. oh yeah .. waht was it.. oh yeah one of those "jobs".

LOL

hold a casting session , and charge 10.00 for processing of the paperwork whe they submit their headshots and such.. :P

no no no..car wash sounds good though. or garage sales. sell some clothes to 2nd hand clothes stores.. give blood. give teeth ..kidneys.. whateva
 
Re: How to raise money for a film

Try selling tickets to the world premiere, in advance.  $20 for a ticket, including "backstage" access to the director and stars, etc... you'd have to sell a hundred tickets, and set the screening date far enough in advance that you could actually make the film and have it done in time, so it's risky... but exciting... tell them that it'll be a red carpet event, and invite the press, etc... sell 'em on the glamor and glitz of the whole thing.

Also, if you get someone to bite and buy tickets, that's when you hit them up for credits in the film.  $100 buys an "Executive Producer" credit, $60 for "Co-Producer", $40 for "Associate Producer", and a donation of $20 or more gets them listed in the "Special Thanks" section...

You'd have to make arrangements to have the screening somewhere, but that's where you leverage the press -- work with an indie-friendly theater, one that has a video projector (they mostly all do nowadays, for their slideshows and "The Twenty" that they air before films...)  Have the party there, let them have all the box office for ticket sales (for people who walk up, that is -- you already gave tickets to your suckers - er, I mean, supporters).  As part of your deal, you'll help the theater with publicity -- you'll send notices to the newspaper Society Pages about the upcoming party/screening event, plus send press releases to the film critics, entertainment reporters on TV, etc. talking about it, and prominently mentioning the names of the theater, and any companies that are supporting you, and your "special thanks" and "executive producers"... etc...

If you can't get an indie-friendly theater to bite, try a high school, they all have theater departments and most have projection facilities, etc.  Use their students as some actors, make a donation to the theater (i.e., try to raise $2200, give the extra $200 to the school) and then you're set.

I have no idea if this will work, this is just thinking off the top of my head...
 
Re: How to raise money for a film

heh heh.. good thinking Barry.. I know alot of people that do the pay for credits thing.
 
Re: How to raise money for a film

Get a business plan and approach businessmen about making an investment into the film. Although this will most likely not work, you never know. One way I raised funds for my project was I made a mock movie poster for the film and during the meetings with possible investors I showed them the poster and their name was beside the executive producer credit. This got some of those guys "gitty."  If you get a guy who has a lot of money and a big ego, you never know what can happen...
 
Re: How to raise money for a film

Im running into the same issues making my storm chasing documentary.. I have put alot of thought into this...

Like a military operation you must have a multi pronged plan drawn out.

I am creating media packets to send to major corporations to invest and in return have their products show some unobtrusive exposure in the Documentary as well as branding in credits.

I am making a trailer and website so they can go there and see it. So that they will have a place and an idea of what they are investing in. It is key it looks cutting edge and professional or no one will waste their time.

I have included others that have good experience in the production industry and are capable contributors. This will let others whom you may want to invest understand that its not just a pipe dream from some schitzophrenic lil' man.. lol  ;D

I read here about a T - shirt  company that will make me a few dozen T shirts for about 300$. I am making a couple thousand post cards to advertise. These can be your calling cards. The website is key public exposure; to drive them there is important.

You have to be a friendly person you have to be like a politician. Smile Big!! walk up to folks you dont know and say "Hello.. Im Fred Plowman.. Shake their hand and say .. Do you like storms?? Im making a Storm Chasing documentary. Give them a post card with your website and saying something about it. This markets your project and builds anticipation for your future release.

Another issue is you have to show your venue. Where are you going to premier your film? what market ? what venue? Look online there are many film festivals to enter that will always except a good piece of work. Send them a post card about your project once a month until you present it there.. "COMING 2007"

You have to sell yourself and your project . You have to have a business plan. Through endorsements, sponsorship, and investers who agree to nothing in return other than exposure of the project with their name attached. I think it can be  done if its really in your heart.

My 2 cents
 
Re: How to raise money for a film

i just thought of something sitting here reading this. The T shirt Idea..
I can sell them at events for 20$ a peice. if you have a small display showing highlishts of your project and a really kick ass designed T shirt..Sell them to friends and family, acquantances. Sell them with the idea that they are helping the project.

Ok so im rambling on.. My mind thinks a hundred mile an hour sometimes..
 
Re: How to raise money for a film

I've been in the thick of raising finances for two months now. I think some of these ideas are admirable and interesting, however nothing, I mean nothing beats a solid business plan.

Think of it this way. If you were an investor expecting a return on your investment would you be more inclined to invest in a project that has a clear and concise budget breakdown, prospectus, scheduling and marketing plan...or... a project that has a cute postcard and a t-shirt?

Now, I'm not saying that the shirts, cards and other neat gimmicks don't work. I'm just saying those things come second to the development kit. Find a Line Producer willing to draw up a budget for you, if you're lucky you'll find one that will work for deffered pay and a small percentage of profits. They do exist, I found a few. Then, find someone who understands Press Kits, Marketing, PR. Have them develop a marketing plan (deffered pay). They exist, I found a few. Then, find an AD, that prefferably has experience with MM software. Have her develop a schedule.

After these three individuals finish their respective work, you then combine each package for a nice polished development kit. If you play your cards right you'll have it all done within 30 days and the upfront cost will be $0.00. Not a bad deal, huh?

After you have the dev. kit done, you can then make all the fluff stuff mentioned above. With all this, you'll now have an investors interest. Remember, you need to be in the top .05 percent of filmmakers with a plan in order to attract investors. Make your plan the very best it can be. Don't cut corners.

Just my humble 2 cents.

www.indiefilmjourney.com
 
Re: How to raise money for a film

Throw a fund-raiser party and charge people to drink -- 1 Keg = 180 beers.
 
Re: How to raise money for a film

Great i dea Gabe,.. I like beer ;D

alvarez.. i prefaced my response with a business plan quite extensively.. alot of these things you promote doing marketing etc.. I was planning on doing myslef and was giving these ideas.. Oyu do have some good points though.. I just cant do everything and I believe to be successful it will take a concerted effort by many.. Thnaks for the insight
 
Re: How to raise money for a film

Well, yes, obviously if you're trying to raise big bucks, you better have a complete business plan prepared (Louise Levison at http://www.moviemoney.com does a great job). However, the original poster was trying to raise only $2,000, and it's only for a short film, which will likely never have any distribution options, so we were coming up with smaller-level ideas...
 
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